Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Applying Research Skills: “Rachel Carson: Environmentalist and Writer”

For Teachers 6th Standards
It's important to cite sources! Scholars take a closer look at their research about DDT by examining how to cite sources. Learners take turns sharing information that would be used to cite sources to complement Rachel Carson:...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Center for History and New Media

A Look at Virginians During Reconstruction, 1865-1877

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
The transition between rebellion to reunification was not smooth after the Civil War. Young historians compare primary and secondary source documents in a study of the Reconstruction era in Virginia, noting the rights that were not...
Activity
PBS

Document This

For Students 6th - 12th
Being a historian requires serious sleuthing. They examine primary source documents and look for evidence, for clues that reveal who wrote the document, when, and why. After watching two historians model the process, young history...
Lesson Plan
National Energy Education Development Project

Great Energy Debate

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
If someone yelled for eight years and eight months, they could produce enough energy to heat one cup of coffee. A lesson on energy encourages scholars to research 10 different energy sources in groups before playing a game. Twenty...
Unit Plan
University of California

The Cold War (America)

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The Cold War—with its roots in World War II—impacts the world today. Using an extensive curriculum, scholars consider its impact through primary sources, including speeches and propaganda, as well as other skills-enhancing activities. An...
Lesson Plan
1
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Historical Thinking Matters

Scopes Trial: 5 Day Lesson

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Did Scopes violate the Butler Act? Why did so many Americans follow the Scopes trial? See analytical reading in action with a fantastic five-day lesson plan in which class members consider the historical context that provoked public...
Lesson Plan
TCI

What Are the Biggest April Fools Jokes of All Time?

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
After working in groups to analyze primary sources related to a historical hoax, learners will discuss how people managed to be fooled and work to identify one of the biggest April Fools jokes in history.
Lesson Plan
Civil War Trust

Transcribing Civil War History

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Primary sources are valuable for understanding the context of historical events, but the diction and dialect in these documents can be difficult to understand. Middle and high schoolers participation in a transcription process in which...
Lesson Plan
National WWII Museum

“My Dear Little Boys…” Interpreting a letter home from the war

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Letters have long been prized by historians as primary sources for what they reveal not only about events but also about the emotional responses of the writers to these events. "My Dear Little Boys," a letter written by Leonard Isacks on...
Lesson Plan
Historical Thinking Matters

Scopes Trial: 3 Day Lesson

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Was the Scopes trial more complicated than a simple debate between evolutionists and creationists? As part of a structured academic controversy (SAC) activity, pupils consider multiple perspectives of the Butler Act and engage in close...
Lesson Plan
2
2
TCI

Ain't I a Woman?

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Learners discover the impact of women on civil rights in United States history by analyzing primary source clues to identify influential female figures.
Lesson Plan
American Press Institute

In the Newsroom: The Fairness Formula

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Reporting the news is easy, right? Think again! Show young scholars the difficult choices journalists make every day through a lesson that includes reading, writing, and discussion elements. Individuals compare the language and sources...
Interactive
US National Archives

WWII: The Pacific 1939-45 – Pearl Harbor

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Though December 7th, 1941 was a day "which would live in infamy," World War II had provided many infamous days, events, battles, and atrocities in the years before. So why were American forces so surprised when Japan attacked Pearl...
Interactive
US National Archives

WWII: Asia 1939-45 – Singapore

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
The fall of Singapore in World War II was shocking news for the Allied forces—but why? High schoolers explore primary source documents and videos to determine why February 15, 1942 was a wake-up call to the British Empire and its allies...
Lesson Plan
1
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Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary

Many Bens: Character Revealed in Writing

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Benjamin Franklin may be known as a Founding Father, but he was also a prolific writer. Scholars examine his better-known pieces to learn about genre, voice, and early American history. The resource includes options for various...
Interactive
US National Archives

WWII: Western Europe 1939-45 – Hamburg

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Was bombing German cities an effective means to an end, or was it a war crime? Could it be both? Young historians ponder these questions with an activity that prompts them to use primary sources to summarize the debate surrounding RAF...
Activity
Re Energy

Build Your Own Biogas Generator

For Students 8th - 12th
What is biogas and how is it made? After examining background information about the sources of biogas and biogas generators, class members follow the provided information and build a biogas generator that can be used in the...
PPT
Curated OER

MLA Electronic Source Citation

For Teachers 7th - 10th
After your class is relatively familiar with plagiarism and different citation formats, introduce them to MLA with this presentation. Actual documents are used to practice citing sources, so it's a great opportunity to get your class...
Worksheet
Student Handouts

Working with Primary Sources: The Spanish-American War

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Examine the introduction to Our Islands in Their People, written by Major-General Joseph Wheeler. The excerpt, which is about two-and-a-half pages long, is included here along with six questions about the text. Pupils can learn about the...
Lesson Plan
K20 LEARN

Making Sense of MLA: Citing Sources and MLA Formatting

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The Modern Language Association (MLA) Style Sheet is about giving credit where credit is due. And while there are different style sheets, the one most often used in Language Arts is the MLA. In this activity, high school scholars learn...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sample Lesson 1: Is This Source Credible? Useful? Why and Why Not?

For Teachers 8th - 11th Standards
  Build background knowledge for The Book Thief by Markus Zusak while teaching your pupils how to determine the credibility of online sources. The plan is designed to take place over the course of two days. On the first day, model...
Worksheet
2
2
Humanities Texas

Primary Source Worksheet: Excerpt from Reagan's Speech "A Time for Choosing"

For Students 8th - 11th
An excerpt from Ronald Reagan's October 27, 1964 speech in support of presidential nominee Barry Goldwater, "A Time for Choosing," is the text for primary source analysis activity. After reading the document, learners respond...
Lesson Plan
Newseum

Propaganda Through History: Analyzing Historical Sources

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Working in teams, pairs, or individually, scholars select one resource from a gallery of historical sources and consider which examples might be considered propaganda, the techniques used to persuade audiences, and evaluate how the...
Lesson Plan
Newseum

Free Press Challenges Through History: Analyzing Historical Sources

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
The debate over the integrity of stories in media is not new. Young journalists analyze historical sources that reveal freedom of the press controversies and draw parallels to challenges freedom of the press faces today. 

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